East Midlands Ambulance Service chief executive Phil Milligan to step down from role

Sam Kinnaird

East Midlands Ambulance Service chief executive Phil Milligan is to leave his role after nearly two years.

Mr Milligan oversaw the controversial ‘Being the Best’ revamp programme for the service, which was voted through earlier this year and included a number of station closures in favour of a more mobile approach.

The Being the Best changes were designed to address the response times which left EMAS as the worst performing ambulance service in the country in 2012, and saw it fined for a third year in a row earlier this year.

But the outgoing chief executive said he left EMAS ‘in a much stronger position’.

Director of Finance and Performance, Jon Sargeant will take his place in the interim until a successor is appointed.

Jon Towler, Chairman of the EMAS Board said: “Phil led the organisation through a time of significant change.

“He leaves EMAS in a considerably better shape and with a clear plan for the future.

“The whole board extends its thanks for the improvements made and wishes him well for the future.”

Mr Milligan’s departure follows an NHS career which spanned more than 30 years. He first joined the service in 1981 as a nurse in the Midlands before going on to take senior roles in both the NHS acute and private healthcare sectors.

Mr Milligan said: “I joined EMAS to make a difference. With the plans in place and progress made I am proud to leave EMAS in a much stronger position.

“I am looking forwards to spending more time with my family; the role of chief executive has been very demanding and has required very long hours to make the progress necessary.

“It is time for me to take a back seat for a while and to leave the driving to someone else.

“Clinical care and overall response times are the best they have been for some time thanks to the ‘Being the Best’ programme.

“I’d like to thank my colleagues at EMAS for their support and hard work in continuing to deliver this important change programme.”